Packers admit previous mistake and use tool they rarely embrace to create much-needed salary cap flexibility
Green Bay released Nate Hobbs.
The Green Bay Packers are admitting at least part of their plan last season was flawed. Hours after agreeing to sign with Benjamin St-Juste in free agency, the team decided to release Nate Hobbs after only one year with the team — Hobbs had signed a four-year, $48 million contract with the Packers as a free agent last March.
Packers use a tool they don’t love to create more cap room
Usually, Green Bay doesn’t like to use the post-June 1 designation, but they did it with Nate Hobbs. That means the release creates $8.838 million in cap space this year. Instead of taking $12 million in dead money now, it will be $4 million in 2026 and $8 million in 2027 — the future part of his dead money doesn’t accelerate until next year with the designation. The bad part is that the Packers won’t have that cap space until June.
The team also gains $6.05 million of cap room next year and $14.7 million in 2028. By releasing Hobbs now, the Packers avoided paying his roster bonus, which was due on Friday.
Unsuccessful free agency in 2025
The Packers had two questionable moves in free agency a year ago. First, the team signed left guard Aaron Banks to a four-year, $77 million deal — the Packers are giving him another chance, though, and restructured his deal to keep him around.
With Hobbs, though, they didn’t have the same level of patience. He played only 11 games in Green Bay and cost $18.2 million, and injuries are a big part of why the Packers are already moving on. Hobbs has a long history of injury limitations, and missed six regular season games and the playoff game last year due to a sequence of knee issues.
Even when Hobbs was on the field, though, the signing didn’t pan out. He allowed a 125.3 passer rating when targeted and lost space when he proved ineffective as a boundary corner — he was a little better in the slot, but the Packers already have Javon Bullard playing there.
Not always does free agency work. And while Brian Gutekunst has a solid track record adding external pieces, the 2025 cycle is one he would like to have back.
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